A Procedure for Searching Three-dimensional Critical Slip Surfaces of Slopes Based on the Strength Reduction Technique

摘要

Strength reduction technique is widely used to analyze the stability of slopes. It shows more advantages than limit equilibrium approaches, especially for three-dimensional slopes. Strength reduction technique cannot provide critical slip surface directly. Based on the characteristics of the critical slip surface, a procedure for searching three-dimensional critical slip surface is proposed. First, arrange some vertical lines along the horizontal directions (for example, x and y). Then search the point with maximum shear strain along each of the vertical lines. Finally, all such points are taken as samples to fit a surface by the least squares method and NURBS. The effect of mesh density on the factor of safety and the position of critical slip surface is also investigated in this paper.